D-II State Golf: Mackenzie McRee & Tucker Clark are State Champions
October 23, 2018 by Andy Morales, AZPreps365
DIVISION II STATE GOLF TOURNAMENT
Oct. 22-23: Omni Tucson National
Salpointe freshman Mackenzie McRee came into the Division II State Tournament ranked No. 12th in the state, behind some of the biggest names in the field, but the graduation of two-time state champion Kelly Su of Chaparral left a void at the very top and McRee played herself into the top position on Monday afternoon.
“I feel like my putting stayed with me yesterday, I made a lot of long putts,” McRee said. “My short game saved me.”
D2 State Champion Mackenzie McRee Salpointe @SalpointeLancer pic.twitter.com/pfnQPO0Pqz
— Andy Morales (@AZPreps365Andy) October 23, 2018
The state championship is usually a 36-hole event but lightning caused a delay Tuesday morning at the Omni Tucson National and then more lightning came while the players were on the course so the second round was cancelled just before heavy rains came in. All scores reverted back to the results from Monday when the girls played the Catalina Course.
McRee shot a 1-under-par 72 on Monday putting her one-stroke ahead of Catalina Foothills junior standout Maya Benita. Salpointe senior Alexandra Quihuis came in 1-over for the third spot.
The Golf Channel featured McRee last March as she overcame scoliosis to qualify for the Drive, Chip and Putt competition held at Augusta. At one point, McRee wore a back brace 21 hours a day but she mentioned she is beyond that now and it shows in her play.
In the team competition, Cactus Shadows shot 28-over (320) to take a 13-stroke lead over Ironwood Ridge. Horizon and Salpointe tied for third place, 19 strokes back at 339. This was the third straight championship for the Falcons and the seventh overall since 2003.
This was the highest finish in Ironwood Ridge history, topping two third place finishes (2011 and 2014). Horizon and Salpointe have won two state titles each.
On the boy’s side, Arcadia junior Tucker Clark shot a 6-under 64 to finish one stroke ahead of Williams Field senior Kohl Kuebler and Thunderbird senior Hayden Sayre shot a 4-under 66 to claim third place on the Sonoran Course.
Clark was pushed all year by arguably the two best siblings to take the course in sophomore Gavin Aurilia and senior Chaz Aurilia. The Arcadia trio came into the state tournament as the top three golfers in D-II with Gavin coming in as the second best in the state regardless of classification. As a team, Arcadia was the best, finishing ahead of D-I powers Hamilton, Perry and Brophy.
D2 State Champion Tucker Clark Arcadia #AZPreps365 pic.twitter.com/ICxbKXPDBA
— Andy Morales (@AZPreps365Andy) October 23, 2018
“Our team has been really good this year. We’ve just been awesome,” Clark said. “I’m proud of the boys and the way they’ve played all season. Just to cap it off like this is amazing.”
Clark’s success comes from something most golfers can relate to.
Clark shot an 82 and an 87 at the Dustin Johnson World Junior Golf Championship in February and he failed to advance to the final rounds. That experience, according to his parents, was the lowest point of his career and he fought back to overcome all the mental challenges associated with a performance that could have stopped his progress, like many of the best golfers have experienced.
Clark obviously has the physical ability to get it done and he put it all together on Monday.
As a team, Arcadia shot an even 280 to finish one stroke ahead of Williams Field and Notre Dame Prep finished two strokes back for third place. It was one of the closest finishes in state history.
This was the second state championship in a row for Arcadia and the 11th overall. Williams Field took second place last year and Notre Dame took third. Notre Dame has three state titles since 2007.
